[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-basv2Plrt-k/UT0PjpbWgbI/AAAAAAAATd4/z_i8YgNWP0I/s144-c/P3051822.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage13PanamaBoarderColombiaPacificToBoarderColombiaCaribbean#5853852195741925810″ caption=”Many birds high up in the palm trees!” type=”image” alt=”P3051822.JPG” ]

Pos: here
Loc: Isla Galera
Acc: tent
Dist: 43 km
Start: 6:15 End: 15:50

Tomorrow’s estimated landing: Isla Del Rey archipelago

All my different weather forecasts this morning said stronger north wind in the morning, light in the afternoon. I started with almost no wind, then a nice helping light NE wind and good current on the running up tide, making good progress for the first 20 km. But as soon as the tide changed, the wind breezed up from NW, and I had current and wind against me. It was even worse, as the current was so strong, that I had to paddle about 45 visual degrees off my target for today, the Isla San Telmo. I had a hard time to make reasonable distance, if I’d stay on line, I would paddle straight into the current and wind with only 2-3 km/h, which is not really worth the effort. Heading just slightly off line south, made me at least paddle 4-5 km/h, but I noticed I may not reach Isla San Telmo in this way.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ivr6T3zQ-K8/UT0QJl11QKI/AAAAAAAATeQ/ti4hGrepasE/s144-c/P3051826.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage13PanamaBoarderColombiaPacificToBoarderColombiaCaribbean#5853852847614279842″ caption=”Isla Galera camp on wide white sandy beach with many trash and driftwood” type=”image” alt=”P3051826.JPG” ]

Ok, plans changed, Isla Galera will have to be the day’s target! ! 10 km less, and slightly more south. But even heading this direction I had a hard time to keep on course, getting pushed south by the current and wind. The last km I was crawling along with those 2-3 km/h, and my dog leg track was not really efficient looking! I was even worried getting pushed into the reef sticking out to the left of the island. I was heading until the last turn north, but traveling west!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Mp-fK9ocrcM/UT0P7B5GloI/AAAAAAAATeI/NqTbTMWbqzk/s144-c/P3051825.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage13PanamaBoarderColombiaPacificToBoarderColombiaCaribbean#5853852597446153858″ caption=”A fallen down coconut sprouts a new tree very soon” type=”image” alt=”P3051825.JPG” ]

At least I got entertained by really hundreds of jumping stingrays almost all day, actually the first time I saw them jumping in such massive numbers! It sounded like a continuous firework, when they were splashing on the water with their flat wide bodies. The flight looked like a bird, they were really flapping with their wings, the long thin tail hanging down. Amazing!

And I heard first and then saw a whale today, the first one since a long time! Nice! Big guy, but showing only shortly.

Ok, if the ebbing current running south is so strong, plus the north wind being around 15-20 knots the afternoon, I will have to probably stop early tomorrow also. But maybe the wind is at least less tomorrow, and the current along the island may not be too bad. We’ll see!

I knew about the wide white sandy beach on Isla Galera, but also about the rip current on landing…I saw the beach coming, was not sure if that side was good for landing, and was hoping for more shelter and less side current on the other side. But soon I spotted a rocky reef, and I just headed in. I got a bit washed on broaching up the beach, and after quickly throwing my paddle uphill and jumping out I had a hard time to grab my boat and to drag it out of the side wash zone…this is really just a round beach end where the current goes along anywhere! No shelter, but no real breakers also. Just strong side wash.

I punished myself for having landed a bit too early in the strong side wash instead of paddling 150 m further into a little shelter of the rocky reef by dragging my boat and gear to just that spot – hard work in the sunny heat! But starting will be nicer from that spot tomorrow. If you would always know the best spot in those conditions, being down there in your boat… up on the beach, it was obvious to see! 🙂

The island was not inhabited, only hundred of sea birds were flying in the air and living on the rocks with the light house and palm trees, looking already white from their shit. A massive amount of washed up logs, bottles, coco nuts, flip flops and other trash decorated the wide sandy beach top.